Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Shares Sold by Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.

Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. reduced its position in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,947 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 822 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,690,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jmac Enterprises LLC increased its position in Atmos Energy by 36.0% during the second quarter. Jmac Enterprises LLC now owns 3,400 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $524,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. increased its position in Atmos Energy by 120.1% during the second quarter. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. now owns 21,761 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $3,353,000 after purchasing an additional 11,872 shares during the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its position in Atmos Energy by 14.5% during the second quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 54,049 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $8,329,000 after purchasing an additional 6,853 shares during the last quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC increased its position in Atmos Energy by 1.5% during the second quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC now owns 7,517 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,158,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares during the last quarter. Finally, USA Financial Formulas increased its position in Atmos Energy by 40.1% during the second quarter. USA Financial Formulas now owns 7,329 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,129,000 after purchasing an additional 2,096 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.9%

NYSE ATO opened at $174.83 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $165.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $158.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.37. Atmos Energy Corporation has a one year low of $136.05 and a one year high of $175.49. The firm has a market cap of $28.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.02, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.74.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.01). Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. The business had revenue of $838.77 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $848.97 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.08 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on ATO shares. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $159.00 price target (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $162.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $163.00 price target (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $162.50.

Atmos Energy Profile

Atmos Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated natural gas distribution, and pipeline and storage businesses in the United States. It operates through two segments, Distribution, and Pipeline and Storage. The Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states.